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hydrocarbon
noun
hy·dro·car·bon
ˈhī-drō-ˌkär-bən
: an organic compound (such as acetylene or butane) containing only carbon and hydrogen and often occurring in petroleum, natural gas, coal, and bitumens
Examples of hydrocarbon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For now, though, the massive profits from those hydrocarbons are playing a dual role, laying a foundation for a modernized, multi-industry economy while putting MBS closer to the center of the world’s geopolitical web.
—Vivienne Walt, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
Made from paraffinic oil hydrocarbons, it is also called renewable diesel or green diesel.
—Kathleen Turner, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
After Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Western nations introduced sweeping sanctions targeting Russian sales of hydrocarbons — including oil, gas and coal.
—Constant Méheut, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024
Saudi Arabia’s massive building spree, and its huge investments, depend on Aramco finding top-dollar value for its hydrocarbons.
—Vivienne Walt, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
More advanced methods include CO2 or hydrocarbon extraction, with the former as the most popular method in the industry.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Finally, a key economic change is the sharp cuts in European purchases of Russian hydrocarbons (oil, gas, and coal), with a shift to buyers like China and India for Russian oil exports.
—Stuart Anderson, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024
Gasoline is lighter than diesel and consists of hydrocarbons primarily in the range from four carbons (e.g., butane) up through hydrocarbons with around 12 carbons.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023
Read More: Sponge-Like Snow Could Explain Titan's Magic Islands
Due to its low gravity, radiation-shielding atmosphere, and abundance of hydrocarbon fuels, some astronomers have proposed Titan as a long-term goal for colonization.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hydrocarbon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1826, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing hydrocarbon
Dictionary Entries Near hydrocarbon
Cite this Entry
“Hydrocarbon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydrocarbon. Accessed 24 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
hydrocarbon
noun
hy·dro·car·bon
ˌhī-drə-ˈkär-bən
: a compound containing only carbon and hydrogen
More from Merriam-Webster on hydrocarbon
Nglish: Translation of hydrocarbon for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hydrocarbon
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